Bottle crate shaker and cleaner



April 1951 A. c. DAVIS 2,549,062

BOTTLE CRATE SHAKER AND CLEANER Original Filed Dec. 30, 1942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 avg" cQQw/J a 2 w a m. m 2 a .r 2 m P. y 6 9n F c h n 1 Z S a 1 7 T 0 I. W 3

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A. C. DAVIS BOTTLE CRATE SHAKER AND CLEANER 1 D w I: F 7 M 1 m g m n A 0 April 17, 1951 A. c. DAVIS BOTTLE cam: SHAKER AND CLEANER 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Dec.

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April 17, 1951 A. c. DAVIS BOTTLE CRATE SHAKER AND CLEANER 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Dec. 30, 1942 gnvenfm CZ//om'2 C. Dave s Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CRATE SHAKER AND CLEANER Allan G. Davis, Baltimore, Md.

Original application December 30, 1942, Serial No. 470,654. Divided and this application Februar'y 6, 1946, Serial No. 645,930

20 claims. (01. 214-11) In the bottling of soft drinks, beer and other liquids packed in compartment cases, in which the empty bottles are returned, the removal of the bottles from the cases, and their introduction into the infeed of the bottle washing machine, has involved a hand operation. This operation is slow and expensive and notablyinefiicient. This hand operation slows down and in various ways reduces the efficiency of the line of machines by which the bottles are washed, filled, inspected and placed in the cases or crates.

The object accomplished by the invention, shown in the co-pending application, Patent No. 2,400,542, dated May, 21', 1,946, fromwhich the present application is a division,is the provision of an automatic machine to be added to the previously existing line of machines, making it feasible to perform the entire cycle of operations in connection with bottling, case filling, washing and refilling, automatically and with the minimum of supervision. More particularly in the operation of that machine, the compartment cases as received from the retailer, each case containing empty bottles in a series of rows, are placed on a feeding conveyor which feeds the machine, and this machine operating automatically almost without supervision for long pe riods, lifts the bottles row by row including as few or as many bottles as presented, and places the bottles on a bottle conveyor, from which they are duly transferred toa multiple conveyor which constitutes the infeed of a bottle washing machine, which in turn delivers to a bottle filling machine. Each case is advanced during the period of removal of the bottles therefrom preferably with a step by step motion and in a direction transverse to the case conveyor, variation as to such details being contemplated; Thus each row of bottles is brought in turn within the range of pick up or gripping mechanism, and when each case is thus emptied of bottles it is thereafter advanced most conveniently in the direction of the case infeed to a case clearing mechanism forming the subject of this divisional application, whereby each case in turn is cleared of dirt and other debris, being for this purpose preferably inverted, and thereafter by a second turning operation returned to upright position on a delivery conveyor. There is in the initial inversion just su fiicient abruptness of treatment to detach and discharge the dirt and debris without injuring the cases. As they are re turned to upright position the coses are placed on a conveyor just referred to as the delivery conveyor, which with the infeed caseconveyor 2 is to best advantage timed with the washer and the other machines of the line, particularly the case filling machine. The delivery conveyor according to the preferred arrangement feeds the cases directly to thecase filling machine. The length and arrangement of the Various intervening conveyors depends on the arrangement of the machines of the line.

In addition to the mechanism for accomplish ing the functions above outlined the machine of the invention includes various protective devices to prevent damage to the cases and the filling up of the cases on the delivery conveyor which leads from the present machine to the,

case filling machine assumingtha-t the present machine is one of a complete line as intended.

The line of automatic machines, to perform the complete bottling and case filling cycle re ferred to may include as at present intended, a bottle filling machine which delivers to aninspection apparatus and a case filling machine. The present machine would receive the returned cases containing empty bottles, the function of the machine of which this is a division being to remove the bottles from the cases and deliver the bottles td the intake of a washing machine which would in turn deliver the bottles to the bottle filling' machine, and the present machine also clears the cases of dirt and debris and delivers the cases to a conveyor by which they are fed to'the case filling machine.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a machine embodying" the invention in the preferred form, changes of design as to all parts of the machine being contemplated and the use of the various elements of the machine in the absence of the others or with other elements or assemblies being likewise contein-p1ated.-

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine looking at the end at which the bottles and cases enter.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the rear end ofthe machine showing the turning or inversion and delivery of the cases.

Figure 3 is a side elevation looking from the left in Figure 1, showing thefront end of the machine, the infeed case conveyor and support being in section.

Figure 4 is a similar elevation of the rear end of the machine. s

Figure 5 is a rear end elevation looking from the left in Figure 2. Figures is a rear elevation of the turnover latch taken from line 6-6 in- Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a section on the vertical plane showing the first turnover arm.

Figure 8 is a second sectional view showing the first case turnover mechanism in turnover position, in this instance the case is partially turned to inverted position.

Figure 9 is a section on the vertical plane indicated by line 99 in Figure 2 showing the second turnover mechanism with a case thereon ready to be turned to upright position on the case delivery conveyor. 7

Figure is a section on the same plane showing the case turned beyond 90 position and ready to drop in upright position on the case delivery conveyor.

Referring to the drawings. by numerals the frame of the machine is indicated in a general way by reference character I.

The infeed of the cases from which the bottles are to be removed and the delivery of cases from the machine and other operations at the. front end of the machine are preferably performed in time with the bottle washer and for this purpose these mechanisms are preferably connected to the motor 2 shown at the right in Figure 1 and are described in the above application.

In the form shown there'is a worm drive 5 on or, connected to the shaft of the motor. This worm drives the worm wheel 6,. the shaft of which carries or drives a small sprocket l, which in turn-drives a chain [4 which engages and operates a sprocket 9 spaced upwardly above the sprocket 1. Sprocket 9 is an idler for spacing the flights of the chain.

'After the filled cases'have been advanced and as each case is emptied in the bottle take up position on rollers 3'! and moves backwardly as each row of bottles is removed, it pushes the previously emptied cases backwardly throughthe machine forming a continuous line of cases 3 moving through the machine to the case turn over and discharge at the rear end of the maand transverse to the length of themachine.

These rollers may be rotatively supported in a) pair of angle irons 82 arranged in parallel and extending backwardly on each side of the path thus identified. These rollers areshown in end elevation in Figure 3.

In the form shown there are two sets of short rollers '8I, one at each side of the path of the cases having their journals seated in the upright flanges of angle irons 82. In this way the center of the machine is made more accessible particularly from beneath. The. extension of the rollers across the entire path of the cases is regarded as undesirable in the particular form of machine shown. r 1:

, At the extreme forward end of said path'of the cases just rearwardly of the bottle .take up position on the rollers 3|, supporting plate 8.3, see Figure'3, hasbeen shown instead of anti-friction rollers and at the rear end of the path the drawing shows supporting plates 84, Figure 5.

. At the extreme rear end of this path there is a case turning mechanism or assembly 85 whereby the cases are turned through an arc of 180 in a'vertical plane at right angles to the direction of thepath just described said;plane being I parallel'to the axes of the anti-friction rollers -8 I.

The cases are thus placed in inverted position 4 on the second turn over mechanism, the second turn over assembly being indicated by reference character 86. This second turn over mechanism turns the cases through an arc of 180 in a vertical plane parallel to the path of the cases through the machine as on rollers BI and plates 83 and 84. This second turn over assembly places the empty cases in upright position on a delivery conveyor 290 which in the preferred practice leads to the case conveyor of a case filling machine by which the filled bottlesare loaded into the cases for delivery.

In the form of machine illustrated this delivery conveyor is of the chain type driven by sprockets 29l which are mounted on a shaft 293 which as shownis connected by universal joints l6' and I6 and shaft [6' to the shaft [6, the front end of which is shown in Figure 1 as having thereon sprocket I5 driven by chain l4 and cooperating sprockets I and 9 from the worm wheel "6 which is operated from the shaft of the motor 2 which drives the bottle washing machine to which the empty bottles are delivered by the machine under discussion.

The respective first and second case turning assemblies will be further discussed. It is of importance that in the first turning operation performed by assembly 85 in which the cases are inverted from upright position, they are handled with just suflicient abruptness to dislodge the dirt and debris collected during shipment and during the sale of the bottled goods and in returning the empty bottles and this handling is not sufiicientl abrupt to destroy or injure the cases.

'The second turn over 86 returns the cases to upright position and places them on the delivery conveyor ready to be presented to the case filling machine.

The handling and treatment of the empty cases, boxes or crates after they leave the bottle take up position on rollers 3| where the bottles are removed, will now be discussed.

As already pointed out the empty cases move rearwardly on rollers 81 or other conveyor, and in the form of the machine shownthese cases normally form a continuous line with each case in side to side contact with the next. The antifriction rollers 81, Fig. 2, support the line of cases and the step by step motion imparted to each case in turn in take up position on rollers 3|, iscommunicated from this case to the one next' to the rear andv previously emptied and from this case to the next and so on through the entire line so that the entire line is moved with the same step by step motion. This arrangement is mainly for convenience and simplicity other case advancing means being usable.

At the rear end of the machine the cases are inverted with just the right degree of abruptness to dislodge and release the dirt and debris and 1 thereafter each case is returned to upright position and advanced toward the case filling machine. 7

Cases which approach the turnover when there is a case on the turnover mechanism so that there is a tendency for the cases to pile up on the conveyor are discharged from the end of the line or otherwise prevented from entering the turnover mechanismin such close sequence with a case being turned as to .cause or tend to cause piling up which in this connection means placing of one case on top of another on the discharge conveyor.

In Figure 1 there is shown a case turnover cam 250 mounted on cam shaft 201 also shown verse shaft 253 supported in the top portion of the frame. Said arm swings in a fore and aft plane. This arm 252 is shown as bifurcated, straddling the cam 250 and the cam roller is between the bifurcations. A connecting rod 254 partially supported by spring 259 is pivotally connected to the lower end of arm 252. The rod 254 extends downwardly and rearwardly and is connected at its lower end to the approximately horizontal arm 255 of a bell crank lever 256 hav ing a fore and aft oscillating arm 25'! shown as approximately upright. This arm 25! is connected at its swinging end to an elongated fore and aft extending connecting rod 256 which extends almost the entire length of the machine, being shown in Fig. 3 and at the rear of the machine in Figs. 2, 6 and '7. At itsextreme rear end this connecting rod 258 is connected to and opcrates a crank 266 which is secured to a transverse shaft 26! which is oscillated by said crank once in each four bottle row lifting cycles, and in accordance with the present embodiment, after the stroke which removes the last row from each case. The follower 25 l is in fact, in the form shown, held in contact with or caused to normally contact cam 256 by a weight 262 shown in the side elevation, Figure 6. The first case turn over operation to be described is in fact energized by the weight 262' and timed by the cam 250, i. e., the weight which is adjustable as to position on arm 2H or as to its amount to compensate for variation in weight of the cases is raised by the cam to a position from which it falls or swings downwardly turning the case and this downward swing of the weight and turning of the case is timed by cam 25!].

More particularly the oscillating cross shaft 26] in the form shown has secured thereto a sprocket 263 oscillating in a fore and aft vertical plane and this sprocket-is connected by a chain 264: to a sprocket 265. secured to and serving to oscillate a longitudinal shaft 266 which is in a higher horizontal plane than shaft 26!, see Figs. 2 and 5. This chain is not endless but is secured at its opposite ends to the respective sprockets 263 and 265 and wrapped partially around same,

the motion of both shafts being oscillatory and.

not rotary. Shaft 266 is similarly connected? by sprockets 268 and. 269 and a single chainZTB to the swinging weight 262 which is mounted on a radial arm secured to the latter sprocket which is mounted one short shaft 269" having a single bearing in the frame. The said chain 216' has two ends, each end portion being secured to and wound partially about a corresponding sprocket. The mechanism just described connects the weight 262 to cam follower 25I and vice versa.

Weight 262 tends with some interruptions by mechanism to be described, to hold follower 25l in contact with cam 256. The weight 262 in swinging downwardly operates the first case turnover; cam 25!) returning or raising the weight and returning the parts to initial position and the second turnover is operated directly by the cam as it raises the weight. The latter operation is therefore relatively positive, and said respective turnovers occur in sequence.

The cases in. their progress through the machine form a closed line extending rearwardly, as described from the rollers 3i which support. the cases in turn in take up position along plates 83, Fig. 3, rollers 8| and ways or plates 84, Figure 5, on which they are guided by the upright flanges or plates 82. As they reach and extend beyond the latter plates they rest on the case supporting or turning plates 213, 2'14 shown in broken lines in Fig. 2,. and in full lines. Figure 4. These plates 213 and 214 are shown as mounted on a radial arm 215 connected to shaft 2 6.6: in a manner to be described. In the first turning operation, i. e., as each case is inverted, these plates swing upwardly about the axis of shaft 266 as it is oscillated by the downward swing of weight,

262. This arm 215 is normally horizontal and is raised, preferably after each case is emptied or" at suitable intervals as determined by cam 256 through the connections shown, or such other suitable connection as may be provided, the timing being essentially in correspondence with. the.

emptying of the cases. It may be noted that plate 214 adjacent to shaft 266 has a normally upright fore and aft extending flange 2'56 which. prevents the case 21"!v thereon from sliding toward. shaft 296v as the case is turned upwardly.

The. arm 215 in the form shown has a hinged or other swinging relation to the shaft 266. having stop means whereby it is prevented from. yielding backwarolly or downwardly beyond a.

predetermined position under the weight. of the case being turned, and springs for restraining and opposing its forward motion holding it normally in backward position against the stop. pointed out the lifting or initial swing of the first turning motion is imparted by weight 262 and therefore cannot crush the cases if they should become jammed in this part of the turning operation. On the other hand if by any chance a case should advance on ways 84 beneath the arm 215 the arm yields upwardly without harmful result.

The mechanism shown is asfollows. Plate 299 approximately radially related. to shaft 266, see

Fig. 7, has the arm 27 5 rigidly secured thereto or integral therewith. This plate 269 is connected to a plate like lug. 299' carried by shaft 266by hinge 36.6 having its axis parallel to shaft 266. Both plates 299 and 299' have projecting fins-or webs 30! and 35H transverse to said plates 299 and 299 and shaft 266,. see Figs. 2 and 4. The fins 3M and 361 project downwardly when arm 215 is-horizontal, see Fig. 7. Fin Bill is rigid with shaft 266 and fin 361 with arm 2%, see Figs. 4, 5, and '7 and these fins have near their radially outer ends stops or stop plates 362 and 362' which are held normally in contact by tension springs 303 one on each side of said fins 361, 39!. Said springs are connected at each end to lugs 364 projecting from fins 361i and 36H respectively and tend to hold stops 362 and 362 in contact each with the other. Springs 363 thus tend to hold arm 2-1-5 in normally fixed relation to shaft 266 andpermit it to yield in left handed rotation as seen in Figure 5. Stops 362 prevent arm 216 from yielding downwardly in the lifting operationv giving it a normally fixed relation to shaft 266 providing for a positive lifting of the case by weight 262, which prevents crushing in case of obstruction of the. case turning path, and the.

spring connection provides for an upward or forward yielding of arm 2.15 when the downward motion of the arm 215 is obstructed as by the premature advancemen-tof a case beneath said arm.

- To prevent" irregular or premature advancement of cases into said position and to keep a full line of cases on ways 84 and rollers 8| a case brake 300 has been provided shown in plan, Figure 2. This brake, as shown, the details of the various mechanisms being subject to variation consists of a brake shoe 301, extending in a fore and aft direction of the machine, 1. e., parallel to said step by step motion, and having its case contacting 'face 301 similarly disposed. This brake shoe as shown is pivotally mounted near its fore and aft center on a lever 308 which swings horizontally and transversely of the machine being in turn pivotally mounted on the frame I at 309 at its forward end. The lever 308 carrying shoe 301 is yieldingly advanced by a spring 3l0' shown as enclosing a sliding guide rod 3 mounted on and radiate from a sleeve 280 on transverse horizontal shaft 26L These arms in their horizontal or depressed position as shown in Figure 2 are at the bottom of a case guiding funnel 219 which is shown as having three rigid sides 28I, 282, 283 and a swinging transverse side 2134 forming the rearside of said funnel. This member 284 is pivotally or hingedly supported at its upper edge at 285 on a rigid portion of the frame I whereby the said flap or funnel side 284 swings in a fore and aft direction as related to the passage of the line of cases through the machine. The sleeve 280 carrying the arms 218 is flexibly connected by coil spring 286 to shaft .26! on which the said sleeve is mounted and said sleeve is provided with offset or other suitable arms 281 which may be integral with arms 2-18 and at right angles thereto extending upwardly when arms 218 are depressed or horizontal. These latter arms 201 carry at their swinging ends a transverse fulcrum roller or equivalent member 288 on the forward side of which the bottom edge of flap 284 rests in the position of roller 288 and arms 218 just described and also shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 in which figures it may be noted that the first turnover arm 215 as shown in full lines is elevated, i. e., is at or near the end of the first turning operation. At this time arms 2-18 are in horizontal position to receive the case thus turned and roller 288' which swings about shaft 28! in the 90. relation shown in Fig. 4 is elevated, holding the flap 284 or rearward wall of funnel 219 in the forwardly and downwardly inclined position shown, whereby the inverted case will be guided downwardly to arms 218. The case is thus turned through the first 180 of the turning operation being dropped with emphasis on the arms 218 tending to remove all dirt and debris.

It will be noted from Figure 4 that the depending arm 260 of transverse shaft 26] is in its rear-most position which corresponds to the position of first turnover arm 2'15 and second turnover arms 218 and roller 288 as therein shown. In this position the first turnover arm 215 is beyond the upright at the end of its stroke ready to drop the case 211 in inverted position'and the second turnover arms 218 are horizontal ready to receive the turned case. It may also be noted that cam follower roller 25!, Figure 3, is in the corresponding depression of cam 250 and the line of cases 13, 13' is stationary as follower 56 approaches shoe 5 5. Continued rotationof said cam expels the follower 25!,drawing the connecting rod 258 forwardly, i. e., to the right of'Figs. 4 and 5 effecting a corresponding motion of arm 260 and shaft 26! and hence of shaft 266 through the connections previously described.

Thus arm 215 is lowered to horizontal position in which case turnover supporting plates 213 and 214 are in line with the case ways 84 and ready to receive another case 211 advanced by the step by step motion. At the same time and by the same motion of crank 260 and shaft 26I, which in the particular mechanism shown is actuated by cam 250 through spring 286, and the positive connection described, the arms 218 are raised to upright position in the second turnover operation, again turning the case 211 through 180 so that it is returned from its bottom up po-' sition, in which it was receivedon arms 218, to normal or bottom downward position on the case delivery conveyor 290, which in the line of machines previously described would deliver the cases directly or indirectly to a case filling ma chine. 'This conveyor is shown as transversely related to the line of cases in the present machine. r

The roller 288 swings rearwardly and downwardly as the second turnover arms 218 swing upwardly said fulcrum being spaced upwardly from arms 218 in the horizontal position of the latter and therefrom in an are about shaft 26]. Lugs 218' are slightly forward of rollers 288 in the horizontal position of arms 218. As the said arms are raised to or slightly beyond the vertical, the rear lower corner of the case rests in. the angle between said lugs and arms and the case rocks about this corner its rear side wall 211' turning with and about said fulcrum 288. .As roller 25I again enters the depression of cam 250, and arms 218 return to the horizontal position which occurs when another case has been emptied, roller fulcrum 288 swings back to the position Figure 4 in which the arms 281 on which it is supported are upright and said detent or roller is above the supporting plane of arms 218. In this position the flap or hinged plate 284 is in the case guiding position, Figure 4, from which it swings to the left releasing the case as the fulcrum 288 swings downwardly to the left in Figure 4 in the second turning opera-' tion;

As each case approaches the conveyor 290 it receives an impetus in the direction of advancement of said conveyor 290 from the inclined plate or chute 294 which is inclined downwardly and forwardly in the direction of motion of conveyor 290 as indicated by the arrow thereon. This impetus serves to overcome the inertia of each case in turn and to prevent slipping of the cases on the conveyor 290, whereby each case in turn moves forwardly with conveyor 290 giving a relatively uniform initial advancement of each case whereby piling up of cases at this point is prevented and the cases are located on the conveyor end to end without shock. It is of importance that each case 211 is inverted in the initial turning operation and landed in inverted position with sufiicient abruptness to dislodge" the dirt and debris which is thus discharged and spilled downwardly but is not handled with suflicient violence to damage the cases through a long period of use. The turning to upright position on the conveyor is performed immediately but preferably without excessiveabruptness.

Conveyor 290 may be timed and operated in 39 any suitable manner. In the :form shown, see Figure 2, it is operated by shaft 116 driven from and in time with the bottle washing machine motor and hence in .time 'with said washin machine which should be timed with the other machine .of the line. .Shaft 16 extends rearwardly from the front of the machine as previously described. In the .form shown this shaft carries at its rear end a pulley 296 driving .a belt 296' which drives a pulley 291, Figure 5, on a short shaft 2 98 supported in a suitable bearing 298' on the :frame 71.. This shaft is connected by a universal joint 16" to a shaft 16' and a similar joint 16'' at its rear and provides a driving connection to conveyor sprocket shaft 293 which carries and drives conveyor sprockets 291 which drive the chains 292 of said conveyor 29!]. ConveyorZ-Sli isshown :ashaving side guides 295 and 295 in the form of angle irons, shown in plan, Figure 2. outer guide 2.95" carries a downwardly and-forwardly inclined funnel plate 295".

Figure 2 shows :in plan and Figure .5 in rear elevation a detector mechanism operating a stop motion whereby the turnover operation is deferred when there is a case .on conveyor 2 .9.0 :inthe receiving position to which the cases are discharged from the second turnover :arms 218. When the first turnover operation is thus deferred the case fed rearwardly from ways 84 over the turnover plates 1213, 214 is passed rearwardly and caused to go beyond said plates 213,214 being thus discharged from the machineland dropped as :in Fig. 2. This prevents piling up of :cases on the conveyor 290. It is of interest that the difficulty referred to and hence this discharge of cases is of infrequent occurrence amounting to usually one or two cases a day. The discharge .of such a small proportion of the cases ;is 'iinsignificant, there being a corresponding consumption of bottles due to breakage by dropping from the various conveyors between the machines of the line and to removal during inspection, etc.

Thi detector and safety discharge device for the cases, in the form shown, comprises detector member or roller 3.15, see Figures 2 and 5.. These detectors or detector rollers 315 are shown in Figure 5 as mounted on uprights 3:16 carried by and extending upwardly from a transverse swinging arm 311, radiating from and secured'to a longitudinal shaft 318. This arm 311 is normally supported by a spring 319 which gives it ayielding upward tendency whereby rollers or detector members 315 normally project upwardly between the chains 292 of case delivery conveyor 290. The shaft 318 also carries rigidly secured thereto or integral therewith an upright arm 320 yieldingly connected at its upper end as by light tension spring 321 and connecting rod 322 to .a fore and aft extending latch lever 324 shown as mounted to swing in a horizontal plane about a central pivot 325 projecting upwardly from a horizontal plate 324 secured to the frame. Lever 324 has at its rear end a detent 326, adapted to engage a forwardly extending lug 321 on the first case turnover arm 215 as best shown inFigure 4. The latch lever 324 is moved in latching direction, 1. e.,

to right in Figure 6, by said spring 321 and rod 322 and arm 3213 as hereinafter described.

The latch 325 is shown in transverse sectional elevation looking forwardly in Figure 6 being shown inv released position, i. e., lever 215 is in lowered or horizontal position and latch 326 has been advanced from its engaged position to the 10 JleftiniFig. 6 which is away from the observer in Figure 2.

It :may be'noted'that latch lever 324 swings in a slot 324"" .in a transverse plate 328 secured to the frame, Figures 2 and 6. In the form shown detent 326 on lever 32.4 has a cam surface 329 which, When engaged by the lug 321 on turnover lever 215 in the return or downward stroke of the latter moves latch lever 324 to the left in Figures 5 and 6 out of the path of lug 321 permitting the lever 215 to move to its fully depressed or horizontal position as in an instance when there is :a case on rollers 315 when the lever 215 reaches the end of its return stroke and is ready to receive acase. This latch 324, 325, 321 is nor-- mally released by spring 330, Figures. 2 and 6 which tends to hold the parts in the position,

Figure 6, spring 319 assisting.

It is of interest "that as stated in the description and shown in the drawing :of cam 25lll that the first and second turnover operations take place in the machine shown in quick succession. and that if the first turnover operation takes place when there is a case on conveyor 29!] in the position in which it overlies the rollers 315, there 'is danger of piling the cases one on top of the other on said conveyor. The tendency to piling up is obviously harmful in its effect on the case filling machine operation and is eliminated by the case detector, turnover latch mechanism. Whenever there is a case on conveyor 290 in theposition described rollers 315 and lever arm 311 are depressed by the weight of the case stretching spring 319 which is of suitable tension for this purpose. Also the shaft 318 is turned to the left by arm 311 as seen in Figure 5 and upright lever 320 is turned counterclockwise in Figure 5. This applies tension to spring 321 and rod 322, swinging the latch lever 324 counterclockwise as seen in plan, Figure 2, stretching spring 330 which tends to hold the latch lever 1324 in the position shown in Figure 6. The counterclockwise motion of lever 324,.see Figures .2 and 6, engages: the latch 326 with lug 321 on lever 215 and the latch re mains engaged so long as there is a case in the position overlying roller 315. As soon asthis case on rollers 315 is advanced or removed, if it should prove to "be jammed, rollers 315 and lever arm 341 rise by action of the springs 319, 330 and 321 and latch 324, 326, 321 is released.

In the meanwhile the advancement of: the cases would normally continue, the case or the successive cases at the rear end of the line being pushed over and off of turnover plates 2-13, 21-4 on to the floor or into a receptacle suitably placed so long as the latch remains engaged.

When the obstruction or jammed case on the ways 290 which is engaging rollers 315 is removed or advanced the turnover latch is released and the regular operation of the machine is continued. One purpose of this detector controlled latch is to prevent piling up of the cases on the delivery conveyor in case of a stoppage or slowing down of the case filling machine and a consequent failure to take cases from case delivery conveyor 293. The intake end of the machine and the delivery conveyor are intended to be so timed a to keep the washer full of bottles.

It is regarded as of advantage in connection with the first and second case turning operation that the respective case turn over arms or levers swing to a position only slightly beyond the vertical, in the form shown about 15 and the upper edge of the case in this position being the outer edge in a radial direction'from the axis of the side 284 and roller 288. The latter is lowered releasing said member 288 and hence the case as the turning operation progresses.

I have thus described a machine, embodying the invention, the description being specific and in' minute detail in order that the contruction and operation of a machine embodying the various features of the invention may be fully disclosed for the benefit of those familiar with case filling and similar machines and hence able to understand this machine: however the specific terms herein are used in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense, the construction disclosed being regarded as a practical embodiment of the invention of which other forms are contemplated.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the type described, the

' combination of means for moving open top cases on a predetermined path, means adjacent said path to lift the cases from said path and to turn the cases to inverted position to remove dirt therefrom, means in receiving relation to said turning means to receive the case from said turning means and to again turn the cases, turning them to upright position and a conveyor in receiving relation to said second turning means to deliver cases from said second turning means, means to detect the presence of cases on said case delivery conveyor in the position in which they are received thereon and means controlled by said detector to delay the operation of the first said turning means, while permitting the continued operation of said first named means and the moving of cases on said path, thereby preventing accumulation of cases on said conveyor.

2. In a machine of the type described having a bottle case support, and means for advancing the cases from the support on a path, the combination of means adjacent said path for turning and inverting the cases, an oscillating member adjacent said turning means mounted to move from an initial receiving position to an approximately vertical position for receiving said cases in inverted position and returning the cases to upright position to which position the case swings by gravity from said member in vertical position, aid oscillating member having a guide for the cases adapted to receive the cases and lead the cases from said first turning means to the oscillating member in its initial position, "said guide leading downwardly to said member, and comprising a depending member swingably mounted approximately parallel to the axis of the oscillating member, near the'upper end of said guide to swing outwardly and a case fulcrum J member having a support projecting upwardly from a location near the axis of the oscillating "member in the initial turning position of said 'member, said support being connected to said oscillating member, to oscillatetherewith carrying said case fulcrum member which supports,

the lower end of said swinging depending memberas the case passes. to the initial turning position, said depending member being released by the downward motion of said fulcrum member to swing freely, thus permitting the case to rock over said fulcrum member as the case swings from the oscillating member near the upright position of the latter in returning the case.

3. In a machine of the type described having a bottle case support, and means for advancing the cases from the support on a path, the combination of means adjacent said path for turning and inverting the cases, an oscillating member adjacent said turning means mounted to move from an initial receiving position to an approximately vertical position for receiving said cases in inverted position and returning the cases to upright position, said oscillating member having a guide for the cases adapted to receive the cases and lead the cases from said first turning means to the oscillating member 'in its'initial position, said guide leading downwardly to said member, and comprising a depending member swingably mounted approximately parallel to the axis of the oscillating member, near the upper end of said guide to swing outwardly and a case fulcrum member having a support projecting upwardly from a location near the axis of the oscillating member in the initial turning position of said member,

said support being connected to said oscillating member, to oscillate therewith carrying said case fulcrum member which supports the lower end of said swinging depending member as the "case passes to the initial returning position, said member being released by the downwardmotion of said fulcrum member to swing freely, thus permitting the case to rock over said fulcrum member as-the case swings from the oscillating member near the upright position of the latter in returning the case, and a stop for the forward bottom, edge of the case, adjacent said fulcrum member and connected to move with the oscillating member and projecting upwardly from the plane of the latter in its initial IBCGiV-r -ing position.

4. In a machine of the type described having a'bottle case support, and means for advancing the cases from the support on a path, the combination of means adjacent said path for turnin'gand inverting the cases, an oscillating member adjacent said turning means mounted to move from an initial receiving position to an approximately vertical position, for receiving said cases in inverted position and returning the cases to upright position, said oscillating member having a guide for the cases adapted to receive'the cases and lead the cases from said first turning means to the oscillating member in its initial position, said guide leading downwardly to said member, and comprising a depending member swingably mounted approximately parallel to the axis of the oscillating member, near the upper end of said guide to swing outwardly and a case fulcrum member having a support projecting upwardly from a location near the axis of the oscillating member "in the initial turning position of said member,

said support being connected to said oscillating member to oscillate therewith carrying said case fulcrum member, which supports the lower end of said swinging case guiding member as Y the case passes to the initial returning position,

13 motion of said fulcrum member to swing .Ireely, thus permitting the case to rock over said fulcrum member as the case swings from the oscillating member near the upright position of the latter in returning the case, the axis of the first turning means being approximately parallel to said path and the axis of the returning means being transversely related thereto.

5. In a machine forclearing debris from cases, means for inverting the cases, turning them about a normally upright side of each case, said inverting means having a releasing position, means having a receiving position lower than said releasing position for returning the cases to upright position, means for guiding .the cases downwardlyfrom said releasing position to said returning means in its receiving position, said guide means having a guide member mounted near the upper end of said guide to swing approximately in the plane of the returning motion of the cases, and located in the path of the swinging edge of the case in said returning operation for checking the returning motion and guiding the cases in upright position to a point of delivery from said returning means.

6. In a machine of the type described, the combination of yieldable power operated means for lifting empty cases and turning them about an axis through an angle approaching 180 degrees to remove dirt and debris therefrom, with a yield ing variable force, the force being varied according to the weight of cases desired to be turned,

saidforce yielding and failing to invert with a substantially overweight case, separate means for thereafter receiving the cases from said turning means in inverted position and return ing them to upright position.

7. In a machine of the type described, the combination of means for turning empty cases approximately about'an axis "through an angle approaching 180 degrees to remove dirt and debris, one normally upright side of said case being parallel to and adjacent tosaid axis, means for thereafter receiving the cases from said turning means in inverted position and returning them to upright position about an axis transverse to said first mentioned :axis, another normally upright side of said case which is at right angles to said first mentioned side being adjacent and parallel to said second :axis, said latter means comprising a fulcrum member connected to said returning member to move therewith and being elongated in parallelism with said transverse axis and spaced above the transverse axis at the beginning of the returning operation and connected to said-returning means to swing therewith in supporting relation to the side of the case which is downward in turning, and a depending swinging guide in the path of the cases at the end of the returning operation, to be alternately engaged being thus held in the path of the case, and later released, 'by said member, yielding to the swinging edge of the anemone to and adjacent to said last mentioned axis, said latter means comprising a fulcrum member spaced above the said transverse axis at the beginning of the returning operation and connected to said returning means to swing therewith moving downwardly as returning progresses, and upwardly on the return stroke of the oscillating means, and a swinging guide supported .on and depending from an axis above said transverse axis, and supported at its lower end on said fulcrum in the initial returning position of said returning means, to be released and swung outwardly in contact with the case in the last part of its returning motion as said fulcrum member swings downwardly.

9. A case turnover comprising ways along which rectangular cases are intermittently fed, periodically operating means extending in said .ways to lift the cases from said ways and turn them upside down, means adjacent said turningmeans to receive said cases from said turning means :and to turn them right side up, conveyor means adjacent said second turning means to receive the cases when turned right side up, detector means in the path of said cases when received on said conveyor means to indicate whether the preceding case has moved from the upright position on said conveyor means, the operation of said detector means by a case preventing the operation of said first turning means when the preceding case has not moved from the uprighting position of the second turnover means on the conveyor while permitting the continued feeding of cases along said ways.

10. A case turnover comprising ways alon which rectangular cases are intermittently fed, lifting means in the path of cases on said ways across which cases may slide and be discharged from the ways, yielding means to turn said lifting means to case inverting position, turning means to receive said inverted cases and to turn them to upright position, a conveyor receiving said cases when so turned to upright position and'means in the path of said cases when so turned to upright position to prevent the operation of said lifting means and cause the discharge of cases therefrom when a preceding case has not moved from said upright position on said conveyor.

11. A case turnover comprising ways along which cases are intermittently fed, a receiving conveyor, means in part beneath and in'part located between said ways and conveyor to invert the case and upright it on the conveyor, means to restrain the inverting action of the inverting means beneath the ways to permit cases to pass over the inverting means and from said ways without being inverted, means on the conveyor in the path of the case movement to upright position to detect the presence there of the preceding case, said detector actuating said restraining means to prevent the delivery of cases to the conveyor, to prevent the piling up of cases on the conveyor.

12. In a machine of the type described, a case turner comprising an arm having a horizontal receiving position, means for delivering a case to a position in which it is supported on the arm and means for swinging the arm to approximately upright position to turn the case, the arm having a pivotal support about which it turns to said upright position, a fulcrum member for supporting the case as it turns, said member projecting upwardly from the arm adjacent the axis of said pivot when the arm is horizontal and swinging downwardly in supporting relation to a normally upright side of the case, when the case turns upwardly with the arm, whereby the case swings downwardly by gravity to an inverted position, a swinging depending case guide member, swinging about an axis approximately parallel to'the axis of said arm, and depending from a support near the top of the path of the case, said member contacting and being initially retarded by said fulcrum member and being released as the fulcrum member moves downwardly, said member first checking the caseas it swings by the 90 upright position and then releasing it to complete the turn.

13. A case turnover for turning a case through an angle of 360 comprising, first and second swingable members both positioned to receive a case in horizontal position and turn it to substantially vertical position and then release it, to turn by momentum and gravity through the balance of 180, the second swingable member being adjacent and receiving the case from the first, and completing the turn ,means to return said first swingable member to horizontal position and to simultaneously swing said second swingable member from horizontal position in the turning of a case and a conveyor adjacent said second swingable member, to receive and convey a case therefrom.

15. A case turnover for turning a case through,

an angle of 360 comprising, first and second swingable members both positioned to receive a case in horizontal position and turn it to substantially verticalposition and then release it, to turn by momentum and gravity through the balance of 180, the second swingable member being adjacent and receiving the case from the first, and completing the turn through 360,

' means to return said first swingable member to horizontal position and to simultaneously swing said second swingable member from horizontal position in the turning of a case and a guide between said first and second swingable members to guide a case, in its fall from the first swingable member, to the second] 16. A case turnover for turning a case through an angle of 360 comprising, first and second swingable members both positioned to receive a case in horizontal position and turn it to substantially vertical position and then release it, to turn by momentum and gravity through the balance of 180, the second swingable member being adjacent and receiving the case from the first, and completing the turn through 360, means to return said first swingable member to horizontal position and to simultaneously swing said second swingable member from horizontal position in the turning of a case, a conveyor adjacent said second swingable member, to receive and convey a case therefrom, and means associated with said conveyor to prevent the swinging of the first swingable member in the event of the absence of a free space on the conveyor to receive a case from the second swingable member.

17. A case turnover'for turning a case through an angle of 360 comprising, first and second swingable members both positioned to receive a case in horizontal position and turn it'to .substantially vertical position and then release it, to turn by momentum and gravity through the balance of 180, the second swingable member being adjacent and receiving the case from the first, and completing the turn through 360, means to return said first swingable member to horizontal position and to simultaneously swing said second swingable member from horizontal position in the turning of a case, and

conveying means to pass cases horizontally to said first swingable member, said conveying means being adapted to carry the cases beyond said first swingable member.

18. A case turnover for turning a case through an angle of 360 comprising, first and second swingable members both positioned to receive a case in horizontal position and turn it to substantially vertical position and then release it, to turn by momentum and gravity through the balance of 180, the second swingable member being adjacent and receiving the case from the first, and completing the turn through 360, means to return said first swingable member to horizontal position and to simultaneously! swing said second swingable member from horizontal position in the turning of a case,'a conveyor adjacent said second swingable member, to receive and convey a case therefrom, conveying means to pass cases horizontally to said first swingable member, said conveying means being adapted to carry the cases beyond said first swingable member and means associated with said conveyor to" prevent the'swinging of the first swingable member in the event of the absence of a free space on the conveyor to receive a case from the second swingable member, said conveying means then carrying the cases beyond said first swingable member.'

19. A case turnover for turning a case through an angle of 360 comprising first and second pivoted swingable members with case retaining projections thereon, both positioned to receive a case in horizontal position and turn it to substantially vertical position where it is partially held by said projections, and then release it, to turn by momentum and gravity through the balance of 180, the second swingable member being adjacent andreceiving the case from the first, and completing the turn through 360 the projection on the first swingablemember when the member is substantially vertical, being substantially above the second swingable member,

when horizontal, to drop the case from a height thereto and means to return said first swingable member to horizontal position and to simultaneously swing. said second swingable member from horizontal position, inthe turning of a case.

held by said projections, and then. release it,

17 to turn by momentum and gravity through the balance of 180, the second swingable member being adjacent and receiving the case from the first, and completing the turn through 360 and a conveyor adjacent said second swingable member, to receive and convey a case therefrom, the projection on the second swingable member, when the member is substantially vertical, being adjacent said conveyor, to drop, the case lightly thereonand means to return said first swingable member to horizontal position and to simultaneously swing said second swingable member from horizontal position, in the turning of a case.

ALLAN C. DAVIS.

18 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of, record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 456,336 Paris July 21, 1891 1,341,798 Graham June '1, 1920 1,470,533 Johnston Oct. 9,1923 1,519,154 .Mitton -1 Dec. 16, 1924 1,721,255 Mitton July 16, 1929 1,763,812 Olson June 1'7, 1930 1,869,477 Hauk Aug. 12, 1932 1,901,928 Olson Mar. 21, 1933 2,119,642 McClatchie June '7, 1938 

